Clothesline reel



Feb. 28, 1950 L.. R. WHITE cLoTHEsLINE REEL Filed Feb. 25, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

HrraP/yzy Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE f l 2,499,123 l I CLoTHEsLINE REEL` Leo Raymond White, Long`each, Calif. Applieanon February 25; 1946, seriame. esci- 037 This invention has to .do generally with improved apparatus for reeling and housing clotheslines. Particularly the invention aims to provide. a clothesline reel that is adapted simultaneously to reel-in a plurality of lines uniformly so that 'all lines are Wound at a uniform rate.

One object of the invention is to provide a guide for a plurality of lines that simultaneously gives the lines the same change in position on their respective reels to insure uniform winding of the .lines with resultant simultaneous finish.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a positive guide for the. several lines that is operable by virtue of rotation of thev winding reels to permit the maximum length of line tolbe wound uniformly on the reels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a line carrying reel housing of rigid tubular cross-section that effectively protects the line against exposure to moisture and dirt. Desirably the housing is split axially into two sections hinged together for convenience of assembly and maintenance. The use of a cylindrical housing has certain additional structural and-functional ladvantages in vthat the lhousing acts as a line retainer for reels by receiving the reels with slight clearance at their peripheries. i

The foregoing embodiments of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description throughout lwhich reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in

which: v

Fig. v1 is a perspective view of the improved `clothesline and reeling mechanism provided by the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view .taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 showing the. line reeling `and housing for the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken .on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. v5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

The invention is directed primarily to the reeling mechanism for simultaneously winding a plurality of lines and for housing the same, and includes generally an Yelongated tubular body Il)I for housing and rotatably supporting a plurality loi line carrying reels I I., and a line spoolingguide I2 for uniformly winding the "lines lI3 on their reels.

The body III as illustrated in the drawings is in the form of an velongated tubular .section having closed ends I4- and I5. It is preferred .BOL

body ID.

the bar 35 for translation.

wound .on Athe reel I I.

tol split the body I0 'in the vertical plane of line I 3, axially .into two sections. The section I6 isprov'ided' to support and carry the various parts of the mechanism, while section I1 acts primarily as a cover for the section L6 and is hinged thereto by connection I'8; It is contemplated that the supporting section 'I6 may be. formed of a relatively heavier material ythan the cover section I1, since the load on. the lines is entirely taken by 'the section IIB. Section I1 of the body has overlapping parts 2 0 and 2| at the upper and lower sides of the body, respectively, to provide a water-tight seal for the body.

The line carryingl reels I'I are fixed in spaced relation to acommon shaft 22 iournaled for rotation Within openings andv 3| in ends I4 and I5 and opening 32 in the. center vpartition 2 4. in al'ineznent with. the longitudinal axis of the The. reels are. each .provided with a hub 2.5' and side flanges 2,6 for retaining the lines I3 wound. upon them and are preferably formed of woodorr the like, to absorb moisture and prevent rusting. `Screw. 21, threaded through opening28 in the hub 25`.of each reel and registering opening 129` in the .shaft 22, locks the reel I Iv to theA shaft 22 and also `acts as an anchor for the line I'3, asv clearlyv illustrated in Fig. 4. It is to be observed that the peripheries 'of the flanges .26 of the reels II are in such close proximity to the inside wall of thebody IB as to enable the latter .to prevent displacement of the lines I3 fromthe'ir reels. The shaft extension 33 carries a crank 34.for rotating the shaft and its space d reels.

The line spooling guide I2 may'be inthe form of a bar r carried'by the body section I6 and provided with line passing: openings 36 spaced in the same relation as `the reels ,l I. Section I6 maybe providedwith a longitudinally arranged projection 31V extending outwardly from the contour ofthe curved section IB to slidably receive Slots 38 are provided in the outer wall of the projection 31 opposite each reel in register with openings 3 6 'in the bar, 3 5,y and are elongated a distance substantially equal to the width of the reel to provide longitudinal shiftingof the line While being The. openings 36 and slots 38` are p erferably located at a horizontal tangent to the bottom Awindings of. each reel.l

The 'line spooling mechanism further includes means for translating the guider to insure uniiormfwinding .of the several lines I3, and includes. generally av toothed wheel 39 .carried by a lirar'zket,v .4D extending transversely through the body section i and secured thereto by spot welding or the like. The wheel 39 is provided with a hub 4I rotatably supported on pin 42 carried by bracket 40. The periphery of the wheel 39 has a cylindrical ange portion 43 with serrations o-r teeth 44 for cooperation with a rotating projection or part 45 carried on the shaft 22. Rotation of the shaft 22 and part 45 fixed thereon engages teeth 44 of the Wheel 39 during a portion of their revolution to impart a partial revolution to the Wheel 39.

The line spooling guide includes means for '1 transmitting rotation from the wheel 39 to recip-,

.lines and mounted in said body section for translation, and means operable by rotation of said rocation of the guide rod 35, and includes a link 45 having one end rotatably carried on an eccentric pin 4l fixed to the wheel 39 and its other end pivotally connected at 48 with the bar 35'.

It readily will be understood from the lforegoing f how rotation of the wheel 39 imparts translation to the bar through theconnection link `-45. Translation lof the guide bar 35 simultaneously shifts the several lines I3 on their reels II to insure a uniform winding on the several reels.

A body i0 and its plurality of line carrying 'l reels II is mounted in a horizontal plane and supported centrally by a post 49 to be spaced from the ground, while the ends of the lines I3 are anchored to a horizontal bar 5U releasably,

connected at the upper end o-f a post 5I at al` ,point remote from the post 49. The bar 5Il is wreceived in a horizontal slot 52 at the upper end of the post. A vertical line passing slot 53 inter- 'sects the slot 52 and provides a release-ble con- 1 ...nection for the bar 59 and its lines I3.

. Ratchet means 54, provided in connectionwith ,1 the` rotating shaft 22 for preventing unwinding Aof the shaft in a reverse direction, includes a 'ratchet wheel 55 fixed to the shaft 22 and en.

.gageable by pawl 56 pivoted to the end plate I4 by pin 57. The pawl 56 has a projection 58 extending through a slot 59 in the body section I6 for releasing the pawl 55 from the wheel 55 to allow reverse rotation of the reels II permitting:

'unspooling of the lines I3. A suitable latch provided for holding the paWl 56 disengaged from its wheel 55, may comprise a leaf spring 69 4carried by the end plate I4 of the body section I6 for frictionally holding the pawl 56 released., i50

In operation, the lines I3 as normally wound' on their reels I I are protected by the body hous- .ing IIJ against deterioration and stored in the housing l0 until it is desired to use them. Being attached to the bar 5I), the lines are simulta '.neously withdrawn from the housing I9 while Vthe pawl 56 is in its released condition, and the bar is inserted in the slot 52 of post 5I remote from the body I0. The pawl 56 is again engaged With the wheel and the user may turn,...

kthe crank 34 in a winding direction to-tighten 'retain the lines on the reels, a line guide rotatable means for translating said line guide. @2.-A clothesline reel comprising, a housing,

rotatable means for simultaneously winding a plurality ofV lines mounted in said housing, and means responsive to rotation of said rotatable means for uniformly winding said lines including, aline guide engaging said lines and mounted for translation, a toothed wheel mounted for rotation at right angles to the axis of rotation of the rotatable means, a part carried by said rotatable means .for engaging said wheel vfor intermittently rotating said wheel, and a connecting rod between said wheel and said line guide for translating said line guide. y

3. A clothesline reel comprising a cylindrical housing having end walls and split axially into two sections, one a body section and the other a cover section, an axial shaft rotatably carried by lsaid end walls, a plurality of line reels secured to said shaft in spaced relation with their peripheries in such close proximity to the cylindrical wall of the housing as to retain the lines on the reels, a line guide engaging said lines and carried by the body section for translation for uniformly Winding the lines on said reels, and means responsive to rotation of the shaft for translating said guide. 4

4. A clotheslines reel comprising a cylindrical housing having end walls and split axially into two sections, one a body section and the other a cover section, the body section having a plurality of line passing openings, an axialshaft rotatably carried by said end walls, a plurality of line reels secured to said shaft in spaced relation with their peripheries in such close proximity to the cylindrical wall of the housing as to engaging said lines and carried by the body section adjacent said line passing openings for translation for uniformly winding the lines on said reels,

and means responsive to rotation v'of the 'shaft lfor translating said guide.

5. A clothesline reel comprising a cylindrical housing having end walls and split axiallyinto two sections, one a body section and the other a cover section, an axial shaft rotatably carried by said end walls, a plurality of liner'reels secured lto said shaft in spaced relation with their peripheries in such close proximity to the cylindrical wall of the housing as to retain the lines on the reels, a line guide engaging said lines and carried by the body section for translation for uniformly winding the lines on said reels, and means A sponsive to rotation of the shaft for translating wound by rotation of the crank. Rotation of..v

:the shaft 22 by the crank .bringsprojection 45 carried by the shaft 22 into engagement with the teeth 44 on the wheel 39 to transmit partial yrotations thereto.-

Rotation of the Wheel 39. ,through the link 46 causes translation lof guide v. bar 35 and simultaneous shifting of the lines' said guide including a toothed wheel carried'by the body section for rotation at'right anglesilto said shaft, a part rotatable by said shaft yfor imparting partial rotation to said wheel, anida 'I connecting rod between said wheel and said guide for translating the latter. 'i

6, A clothesline reel comprisinga cylindrical housing having end Walls and split axially into two sections, one a body section and the other a cover section, an axial shaft rotatably carried by said end Walls, a plurality of line reels secured to said shaft, a guide engaging said lines and carried by the body section for translation to uniformly wind the lines on said reels, and means responsive to rotation of the shaft for translating said guide.

7. A clothesline reel comprising a housing, rotatable means for simultaneously winding a plurality of lines mounted in said housing, and means responsive to rotation of said rotatable means for uniformly winding said lines including, a guide engaging said lines and mounted for translation, a toothed Wheel mounted for rotation, a part carried by said rotatable means engaging said wheel to intermittently rotate said wheel, and a connecting rod between said Wheel and said line guide for translating said line guide.

LEOi RAYMOND WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATESy PATENTS 

